An overview of the suicide rates in Hong Kong from 1971-1990 is given. The average suicide rate was 11.3/100,000 population. The overall ratio of male to female suicide was 1.3:1, indicating a relatively high female rate as compared with other countries. The suicide rate increased with age. The adolescent rate was not particularly high but that for the elderly was 4-5 times the overall rate. Jumping from a height & hanging were the most common methods of suicide. (36 refs.)